Golf stroke practice device



Jan. 29, 1935.

D. M. BOOTHMAN GOLF STROKE PRACTICE DEVICE Filed Feb. 16

, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Dale M. Boofhman. 127% mm m mm ATTORNE Jan. 29, 1935.

D. M. BOOTHMAN GOLF STROKE PRACTICE DEVICE 4 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 16, 1933 I Ill/Ill I Il/ I INVENTOR Dale M. Boofhman.

D. M. BOOTHMAN GOLF STROKE PRACTICE DEVICE Jan. 29, 1935.

Filed Feb. 16, 1953 4 Sheets-$heet 3 1 INVENTOR Da/e M Boofhman.

"ATTORKTEY 1935. D. BOOTHMAN 1,989,542"

GOLF STROKE PRACTICE DEVICE Fi led Feb. 16, 1933 4 Sheets-Shet 4 I l 16 9 17/ /63 I /69 INVENTOR Dale MBoofhman.

Patented Jan. 29, 1935 a 1,989,542

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application February 16, 1933, Serial No. 657,015

19 Claims. (Cl. 273-45) My invention relates to golf, and particularly to s'tructed and arranged that the bottom wall of a device for practicing golf shots or strokes. the receiver slopes downwardly toward that end An object of my invention is to provide a device of the device at which a player stands when for practicing golf shots or strokes that shall be using it. r adapted to be used inside of a building having a A pliant target having a continuous ball re- ,5

rooms of the ordinary size. ceiving surfaceis located within the receiver or Another object of my invention is to provide a casing, is of substantially thesamearea as the golf stroke practice device that shall be so deinside of the casing, and is supported at its top signed and constructed as to make it safe to pracedge only so that it may swing freely under the tice heavy strokes, that is those in which the impact ofa moving golf ball. The front surface 10 player uses his full strength in swinging a club. of the target is provided with a thin layer of a Another object of my invention is to provide a tacky substance, and a net or sheet of thin-pligolf stroke practice device that shall be easily able material hangs loosely immediately in front assembled and disassembled, and that shall be of the target. Atrap is provided immediatelybecollapsible in more than one direction so that the hind the target and a vertically extending canvas 15 structure may be stored away in a minimum wall extends forwardly of the rear wall to prevent space. travelof a golf ball around the reanend of the Another object of my invention is to provide a casing; I Y golf stroke practice device embodying a novel The side wall extension nearer to the player is forrn' of target having means for indicating the made lower than the extension side wall on the 20 location of the point of impact of a golf ball. side away from the player and as this may per- Another object of my invention is to provide a put, under extreme conditions, a ,ball to bound golf stroke practice device that shall embody out of the receiver, I provide an emergency stop means for indicating the initial and. the finalconat that side of the receiver nearer the player to ditions of travel of a golf ball through apredestop such erratic balls. This emergency stop termined distance. may be in the form of a net of relatively small Another object of my invention is to provide a mesh, or a pliant sheet, suspended from a horigolf stroke practice device that shall embody zontal and pivotally mountedarm, but otherwise means to indicate the path of movement of the free to move under the impact of a golf ball head of a golf club when swung to strike a golf striking the same. I 30 ball. I provide also a tee of novel form on which Another object of my invention is to provide a the ball to be driven is placed; which tee is located golf Stroke practice d v t at Sha embody at the extreme end of my device andsubstantially means for indicating the accuracy of swing or n the floor or ground, The tee comprises a Stroke of a golf club when swung t r ke a olf resilient plate of substantially rectangular shape, 35

ball. which plate is supported on a resilient means.

Another object of my invention is to provide a The resilient plate is preferably made of such golf St oke p a q ipment which will be so material that it will be marked when scraped by convenient that it will be used daily, not only for a golf club head as the golf club is swung to '40 h impr v m n f h f s r k of a play r, strike the ball located on the plate. I may pro- 40 but also for the improvement of health through vide also an auxiliary ball support adapted to i teres exercise. raise the ball above the surface of the resilient Other objects will either be self evident from plate, which auxiliary support may be easily and the description of the embodiment of my invenquickly moved to an inoperative position.

tion now preferred by me, or will be pointed out I th drawing in the course of the description of the device and Figure 1 is a iew, mainly in side elevation,

of its operation. with certain portions cut away, of a' golf stroke In practicing my invention, I provide an openpractice device embodying my invention, front boxlike receiver or casing, of pliant mate- Fig. 2 is a view, in side elevation, of a skeleton rial, and having forwardly extending side walls of collapsible frame shown by itself and in its 001- .50 different heights and a skeleton frame for the lapsed position,

casing which can be collapsed in two directions Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a means at right angles to each other. I prefer at presfor supporting a net or sheet in front of'the ent to use a relatively heavy cotton duck cloth target, v

for the receiver, and. the skeleton frame is so con- Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the assembled device in its operative position, the rear portion thereof being shown with the top wall of the casing removed,

Fig. 5 is a view, in vertical section, through the device taken on the line VV of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, in vertical section, of a sliding joint on the skeleton frame,

Fig. 7 is a view, in perspective, of a modified form of device embodying my invention and shownas supported from and adjacent to the side wall of a room, V

Fig. 8 is a view, in end elevation, of the struc ture shown in Fig. '7 when in its collapsed condition,

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of my improved tee,

Fig. 10 is a view, in side elevation, of the tee shown in Fig. 9, and,

Fig. 11 is a view, in vertical section, of my improved tee and taken on the line XIXI of Fig. 9.

7 Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have there thown one form of my improved golf stroke practicing device, from which it will be noted that the device includes a receiver or casing 21, which casing includes two side walls 23 and 25, a top wall 27, which is relatively short, abottom wall 29 which is relatively long, and a rear wall 31. It will be noted further that the vertical height of the receiver or casing is appreciably greater than the horizontal width thereof and further that it is; of substantially rec tangular shape in lateral section At present I prefer to make the casing 21 of a relatively heavy cotton duck cloth or of some similar pliant material. The side wall 23 isprovided witha forward extension 32 which is relatively low in height, as may be seen by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings, and the side wall 25 is provided with an extension 33, which extension ishigher than'the extension 32. The extensions 32 and 33 cooperate with the bottom wall 29 to constitute an alley within which the ball may move toward the closed end of the casing after being struck by a golf club and when returning to the operators position after having been stopped by impact on a target to be hereinafter described in detail. All of the walls are made of pliant material and may be made unitary, that is, properly shaped and dimensioned pieces of duck cloth may be sewed together to constitute the receiver and alley as has just been described. I 'The extension 32 is made relatively low in order that the club used by. a player may easily pass over it in the course of its swing, while the extension 33 is made relatively high so that it will .be high enough, under ordinary conditions of playing, to receive and stop a golf ball tending' to go in a direction away from the player.

A three part skeleton frame is utilized for maintaining the receiver 21 and the extensions 32 and 33 in their proper operative and relative positions .when the device is ready for use. The larger skeleton frame portion is located at the bottom of the device and includes a portion 35, of substantially U-shape in outline, as will be noted by reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings. Each leg of the member 35 has coaxially alined therewith and abutting thereagainst, an extension, the two extensions being numbered 3'7and 39 as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The coaxial alinement of members 35 and 3'? on the one side and of members 35 and 39 on the other side is maintained by a slip joint member, these tubular members being indicated by the numorals .41 and 43 in Fig. 40f the draw threaded into the Ts 49.

it is desired to disassemble and shorten this part of the skeleton frame assembly it is only necessary to move the slip joint members 41 and 43 to the left away from stop pins 45 and 4'7 until the abutting ends of the coaxially alined framed portions are uncovered after which the extensions 37 and 39 can be moved to the left and to positions closely adjacent to and at the side of the respective leg portions 35, substantially as shown in Fig.2 of the drawings.

In order to obtain the necessary strength with a minimum weight I prefer at present to use pipe lengths and standard plumbers fittings. At the outer ends of members 37 and 39 I provide a plumbers T 49 and locate therebetween a short length of pipe 51 of suitable length and properly This construction is shown more particularly in Fig. 4 of the drawings. I provide also a short nipple 53 at the outer endof each of the Ts as well as an elbow 55, in the upper end of each of which is screwed a short length of pipe 57. A cap 59 may be located thereon if desired. A spring 61 is located at each side, one end being hooked to the short upright standard 57 and the other end being hooked respectively into the side wall extensions 32 and. 33 to hold them in tension;

An upper frame portion includes a member 63 of substantially U-shape and of the same form as the corresponding part of the lower skeleton frameportion 35. I have found it unnecessary to place a cross bar between the ends of the leg portions of member 63.

A spacer skeleton frame is located between the lower frame portion 35 and the upper frame portion 63. A horizontally extending pipe length 65 is located immediately inside of and below the top wall of the casing and may be suitably secured to the legs of member 63. Two substantially vertically extending side members 67 and 69 are connected with member 65 by means of a suitably threaded T '71 so that the side members 67 and 69 may have a turning movement relatively to member 65. The bottom ends of side members 6'7 and 69 are connected by a length 73 of pipe by the use of elbows 75, as may be noted more particularly from Fig. 4 of the drawings. When the device is in use it is supported from a floor '77 by the cross piece 73 and the elbows 75. It will be noted from Fig. 1 of the drawings that I have provided a short pipe length '79 engaging the Ts 11, the length 79 being connected to the side members 6'? and 69 through a 45 elbow 81. This is done in order to provide some space between the topmost frame portion 63 and the portions 37 and 35 on the one side and the portions 39 and 35 on the other side, which elements constitute the lower frame portion when the frame is collapsed for storage (see Fig. 2).

I provide each leg portion 35 with a short horizontal length of pipe 83 which may be suitably secured, in each case, to the members 35 as by welding. The outer ends of each of the members are screw threaded in order that a T 85 may be screwed thereon and move over the side members 67 and 69 when the entire skeleton frame is collapsed. For this purpose the inner surface of the main portion of members 85 are made smooth and. of such diameter as to slide freely over the members 67 and 69 which they respectively surround. One or more openings may be provided in the members 67 and 69 inorder that a locating pin 87 may extend through the member 8.5 and the members 67 and 69 to place the side and back walls of the casing in tension.

The above described construction of the skeleton frame provides a frame of very light Weight, but of sufiicient rigidity to hold the receiver and the sidewalls taut to withstand repeated impacts of a golf ball when travelling at high speed. The

skeleton frame is collapsible in more than one direction, which directions are at substantially right angles to each other; To collapse .the assembled device after use and when it is in substantially the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, it is only necessary to remove the two pins 87, after which the bottom frame and the bottom Wall of the casing may be moved upwardly toward the top portion 65 of the frame, during which movement members 85 will slide upwardly on the side bars 67 and 69, and these side bars will swing pivotally on the top member 63. After this the slip-on connectors 41 and 43 may be moved on legs 35 until the abutting joints are uncovered, after which the extensions 37 and 39 can be moved into parallel and partially overlapping position relatively to the legs 35. It is to be understood that the walls of the casing and the extensions 32 and 33 are suitably folded into overlapping positions, in any suitable or desired manner, so that when the entire device is in its collapsed position, the three frame portions will occupy substantially the positions shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings and the cloth walls will be suitably included or located within the confines of the skeleton frame. It will be noted, by reference to Fig. 2, that the upper frame member 63 is located a short distance away from the lower frame member and this space provides a convenient location for at least a part of the walls.

I provide means inside of the casing for stopping a moving golf ball and for indicating the path of travel of a ball within the'casing, this means including a target 91 which is suspended within the casing at or from its top edge as by providing a hem at the top thereof through which is slipped a metal bar whose ends may be pointed and lit into the legs of the upper skeleton frame portion 63. This target may be made of a suitable pliant material, such as a heavy cotton duck, the main consideration being that it shall have a continuous and unbroken surface and that it shall be of substantially the same area as the inside of the receiver. The bottom edge thereof swings freely from the top suspension.

The front surface of the target 91 is provided with a relatively thin layer 95 of a tacky sub stance used to indicate the point-of impact of a golf ball. This layer of tacky material may be some form of a rubber compound or solution, such as is disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,892,123 issued Dec. 27, 1932, or I may use the compound obtained by the use of the process set forth in U. S. Patent No. 490,500 issued Jan. 2 1, 1893. I mention a particular embodiment of means capable of providing such a tacky surface as I have used the material disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,892,123 with success in devices of this kind constructed by me, but I wish it to be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as other materials may be found capable of the same use.

I provide also means cooperating with the tacky front surface of the target to indicate the point of impact of a moving golf ball striking the target in the form of a net or sheet of pliant material 97 suspended in a suitable manner at its upper edge and immediately in front of the target. If a net is used I prefer to use one of relatively small mesh but in place thereof I may use a relatively thin, light weight but strong and very flexible sheet. of cloth. When a golf ball strikes the net 97 .or-its equivalent, the net or cloth-at the point of impact will be driven against the tacky front surface of the target and caused to adhere thereto, thereby indicating the point of impact of the golf ball. It is also obvious that with a proper depth of a tacky substance on the front surface of target 91, it may not be necessary to use a net 97 as the swiftly moving golf ball will leave at least a temporary mark or indentation on or in the tacky surface.

A formof suspension which I have used successfully for the net 97 is shown in the fragmen tary view of 3 where one of the leg portions of member 63 is shown in section, together with the top wall 27 and a side wall 23 of the casing. A short length of a helical spring 99 is slipped over the tubular member 63 and under the cloth casing walls, the end portions of the helical spring being hooked into suitable openings in the edge portion of the net or cloth 97. The inherent tendency of the springs 99 to straighten out will assist the coils thereof in suitably tensioning the upper. edge of the net 97, it being understood that two such spring supports are provided for the net at eachupper corner thereof.

I provide further a trap in the rear of the target and'this trap may take the. form of a front wail, of cloth, 10l, having integral therewith side walls 103 and 105, as is shown more particularly in Fig. 4 of the drawings. This trapis suspended at its top edge only as by means of a hem surrounding a horizontally extending bar 107 whose pointedv ends may fit into suitable recesses in the side portions of member 63. The lower edge of the frontwall 101 is permitted'to hang freely, andif desired, a weight member 109 may be 10- catedin a hem at the bottom edge of part 101. The width, in a horizontal plane, of member 101 issliglitly less than the horizontal distance between the side walls 23 and 25. The rear edges of portions 103 and 105 of the trap are located closely adjacent to the side walls 23 and 25 and may be held there resiliently by means of a single piece of rope 111 which passes through harm in the rear edges of portions 103 and 105, around and over the top frame portion 63 and below the bottom frame portion 35.

An additional means for preventing a golf ball, which has moved into the extreme rear end of the casing past the trap, from moving from one side of the casing to the other side is provided in the form of a canvas wall 113, one vertical edge of which may be suitably sewed to the rear wall 31, while the upper front corner thereof may be secured by means of a cord 115 to the supporting means 107 for the front wall of the trap 101.

In order to be able to remove the indication as to the point of impact of a golf ball I provide a cord 117, one end of which may be tied to the inner end of the near spring 61 while the other end thereof extends over the rod 93 and is tied to the lower edge of wall 101 of the trap. A short cord 119 is tied to the middle of the net 97 and to the cord 117 and so arranged that a pull on the outer end of cord 117 not only releases the net from the tacky front surface 95, but also raises the bottom edge of the trap so that a ball which was caught in back of the trap can roll down the downwardly sloping wall 29 to the open or right hand end of the entire device.

As was hereinbefore stated I prefer to make the nearer extension side wall 32 lower than the opposite extension 33 and it may happen that a ball may travel out of the alley. In order to stop this stray ball I provide a sheet or net 121 at the near side of the device, which net may be suspended at its top edge to a pivotally mounted bar or tube 123, whose inner end may be suitably supported at the top of the side member 67 by one or more standard plumbers fittings indicated collectively by the numeral 125 in Fig. 5 of the drawings. This net 121 can be swung to any desired angle, relatively to the longitudinal axis of the device, so that this backstop will be in position to stop any stray balls which may be knocked over the relatively low side wall extension 32.

It may be that some users of the devicewill prefer to have the receiver mounted on a wall in such manner that it may be folded thereagainst when not in use. A device of this kind is shown in operative position against a side wall in Fig. 7 of the drawings and is shown in folded up position against the wall in Fig. 8 of the drawings. In this modification of the device I use substantially thev same upper frame portion 63 and the same lower frame portion as was hereinbefore described, but I can omit the stretcher frame and obtain substantially the same results by slightly different means now to be described.

At a suitable distance above the device I provide a support 131 for. one end of a strap 133, and while I have shown a specific form of strap support 131, I do not wish to be limited thereto as any suitable means for supporting the strap at its upper end. may be utilized. I provide a metal hook 135 in the outer leg portion of member 63 so that the lower end of the strap, which may be provided with a plurality of perforations in the usual manner, may engagethe hook 135 so that the top wall of the casing shall be substantially horizontal or in substantially the same position as is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The inner leg portion of the upper skeleton frame portion may be provided with laterally projecting lugs 137 and 139, one end of each of which being suitably seemed to the leg portion of member 63 as by being welded thereto. A plate 141 having lugs 143 thereon is suitably secured against the wall and pivot pins extend through the outer ends of members 137 and 139 and the cooperating lugs 143.

Instead of mounting the adjustable back stop 121 at or near the middle of the length of the casing proper I can arrange to mount it on a suitable horizontally extending supporting bar 145, which may have suitable engagement with the outer leg portion of member 63 at its end so that it will be supported in the proper operative position adjacent to the casing.

When it is desired to collapse the device this may be done by the operators turning the short tubular pieces 57 outwardly, swinging the net 97,'the target 91 and the trap 101 forwardly and up over the top wall 27, then releasing the strap 133 from the hook 135, after which he need only swing the upper frame portion upwardly against the wall, to substantially the position shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, it being understood of course that the back stop 121 has been removed from its normal operative position. The strap 133 can then be engaged with a buckle on a short trap 147, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, by which operation the entire device will be folded against the wall in a relatively small space.

It is of course also obvious that a device of this kind may be suspended by ropes from a high I ceiling and the device can then be pulled up against the ceiling when it is not in use; this applies particularly to the modified form of device shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

I have hereinbefore described one important part of my complete device which is effective to show the travel conditions of a golf ball at the end of a predetermined distance, and I will now describe a second important element of my device which provides means for indicating not only the initial travel conditions of a golf ball, but also the accuracy of stroke of a golf club when swung to strike and move a golf ball. This element is constituted by a fully resilient tee, which is shown in detail in Figs. 9, 10, and 11 of the drawings. An upper plate 161, which may be of substantially rectangular shape is made of a resilient and slightly compressible material. At the present time I prefer to use a sheet of rubber such as a piece of rubber belting,'which may have a thickness on the order of one quarter inch. The surface of the tee plate should be such that a topped ball will not rebound excessively. This sheet is supported by two resilient supports 163 and 165, each of the same general shape and in the form of a member of channel shape, as is shown more particularly in Fig. 11 01" the drawings. The lateral edges of the sheet 161 may be secured to the edge portions of the lateral extensions of the supports by a plurality of short machine screws 167 which have screw threaded engagement with metal bar 169, as is shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings. This method of securing the resilient upper plate to the resilient supports provides of easy initial assembly and also of easy replacement in case the plate 161 wears out. The members 163 and 165 are located a small distance apart so that the tee may be located over the cross bar 51, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

I provide a small depression 171 in the top surface of the plate 161. The members 163 and 165 are made of relatively thin sheet metal and the lateral extensions of these members provide a resilient support for substantially the entire length of plate 161.

While the location of a golf ball in the depression 171 is correct and desirable for certain golf clubs, such as the clubs having metal heads, it may be desirable, when using wooden clubs, to raise the ball slightly above the top surface of plate 161. I therefore provide an auxiliary support in the form of a flexible strip 173 which may be of sheet rubber, having one enlarged end portion 175 secured against the upper surface of plate 161 and at its mid portion by several of the screws or bolts 167, as is shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. I may provide a thin boss or small lug 177 at the free end of member 173 so thata golf ball may be raised or inch above the upper surface of plate 161.

Let it be assumed that a golf ball has been located in the depression 171 and that a player is using a club having a metal head. It is of course possible to make what may be termed a perfect shot but it is also possible to swing the club in such manner as will not result in a perfect shot. Thus a good shot may require that the bottom edge of the head of the club either move above the upper surface of the tee plate, or that this upper surface be grazed by the bottom edge of the head, in which case the yielding upper surface of plate 161 will show a mark. Thus if the player swing his club so that the head sesame thereof moves an arc whose Vertical plane is parallel to the general vertical plane of the device itself, this mark will extend parallel to the edges of the tee plate. If the swingwas such as toslice the ball, the mark left-on the top surface of the tee plate will extend diagonally across the tee plate. I have found it possible to slightly wet the top surface of plate 161 to showup clearly even the slightest amount of grazing contact or sclafling between the bottom edge of a golf club. head and the tee plate, thereby making it easy to study the path of movement of the golf club head and determine whether that stroke was good: or bad. By the same token, namely the 1 study of the extent and direction of the mark showing the grazing contact of the-head of a golf club with the tee plate, it is possible to determinethe initial conditions of travel of a golf ball.

The target hereinbe-fore described will indicate the final conditions of travel of a golf ball, so

3. tainedthe desired correct conditions.

The strength of the material used for the receiver is such as to permit of a player using his full strength and my device therefore enables playing under substantially normal outdoor-conditions, especially as to the amount of energy used. It permits also of practicing golf strokes without the necessity of having some other personretrieve the bal1s, while at the same time playing under substantially normal golfing conditions.

The device embodying my invention can be easily and quickly collapsed when not in use and can also be easily; and quickly put back I into-playing condition.

Various modifications may be made injthe device embodying my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and I desire therefore, that only; such limitations shall be placed thereon asare" imposed by the prior artor are set forthin the appended claims A I claim as; my invention:. 1. A device for practicing golf shots compris ing an open front receiver of pliant material, a receiver support including an upper and a lower skeleton frame and a stretcher frame therebetween pivotally connected to the upper frame and slidably and pivotally connected to the lower frame.

2. A device for practicing golf shots comprising an open front receiver of pliant material, a receiver support including an upper skeleton frame, a lower longitudinally-collapsible skeleton frame and a stretcher frame pivotally connected to the upper skeleton frame and slidably and pivotally connected to the lower skeleton frame to effect collapse of the device into flat and shortened condition for storage.

3. A device for practicing golf shots comprising an open front receiver of pliant material having a bottom wall longer than its top wall, skeleton frames for the top and the bottom walls, a stretcher frame pivotally connected to the top skeleton frame and slidably connected to the bottom skeleton frame, the lower frame including two normally coaxially-alined parts and slip-on connectors, the connections between the stretcher frames and the top and bottom skeleton frames and the slip-on connectors enabling collapse of the device into flat and shortened condition.

4. A device for practicing golf shots comprising a yieldable target having an unbroken ballreceiving surface and meansin frontof thetarget and cooperating therewith to' indicate the point of impingement of a ball. I

5. A device for practicing" golf shots comprising a yieldable target having-an unbroken ball ing surface and flexible means immediatelyin front of the target cooperating therewith' to indicatethe point of impingement of a ball onthe target.

7'. A device for practicing golf shots including a target having an unbroken-tacky ball-receiving downwardly'toward-theopen end, a trap near the" closed end of the casing and suspended thereirrat its upper edge, a target in front of the trap; a

sheet of pliant material in front of the target and driventhereagainst by the impact of. a movi inggolf ball, and means actuated by an operatorjBOi ing: a receiverof open-front box-like shape and:

of pliant material, extension side walls sloping downwardly away from: the open end of the re-'- ing it in such position that the entire length. of

the bottom wall s'l'opes downwardly fro'mth'eback sheet of" pliant material ceiver, the far wall being higher than the'near' wall, askeleton frame for the *receiversuppcrtof, the-receiver, a target inythe' receiver having'f meansthereon, in front thereof; and cooperating;

; therewith for registering the point'of impact'of a;

golf ball, and; a ball-supportingtee in the. open:

receiver, a target in the receiver, means cooperat- I ing with the target to indicate the point of impingement of the golf ball entering the receiver and an adjustable swinging backstop at the operators side, adjacent to the open front of the receiver and on the outside thereof.

12. A device for practicing golf shots including a casing of open-front box-like shape and having a bottom wall extending forwardly of the casing, a skeleton frame for the casing collapsible in two directions at right angles to each other and normally holding the receiver in such position that the bottom wall slopes downwardly from the closed end of the receiver, a target in the receiver having an unbroken tacky ball-receiving front surface, a net in front of the target and driven thereagainst by the impact of a golf ball, means actuable by the operator to release the net from the target, and a resiliently supported tee at the outer end of the bottom wall and interfitting with the skeleton frame. 7

. 13. In a golf stroke practice device, the combination with a target, of a trap located in back of the target and means actuable by an operator for raising the trap to release a ball held thereby.

14. In a golf stroke practice device, the combination with an open front casing having a target therein, of a trap located in the casing back of the target, said trap being of substantially channelshape in horizontal section, and means for yieldingly holding the rear edges of the side walls of the trap closely adjacent to the side walls of the casing.

15. In a golf stroke'practice device, the com-' bination with an open front casing having a downwardly sloping floor and a target therein, of a pliant trap in the casing back of the target, said trap being of substantially channel shape in horizontal section, means for suspending the trap from its upper end portion, means for yieldingly holding the rear edges of the side walls of the trap adjacent to the side walls of the casing and means operable by an operator or player to raise the bottom edge of the trap.

16. In a golf stroke practice device, the combination with an open front casing of pliant material having a downwardly and forwardly sloping floor and a target in the casing having a tacky front surface, of a sheet-like trap of pliant material extending laterally of the casing and located back of the target, means for suspending the trap from its upper end portion, a net sus-- pended in front of the target and driven against the target by a moving golf ball to indicate the point of impingement thereof on the target and cord means manually actuable by a player to simultaneously raise the bottom of the trap and release the net from the target. I

17. In a golf stroke practice device, the combination with an open front casing having a forwardly downwardly sloping floor and a target therein, of a plianttrap in the casing back of the target, said trap being of substantially channelshape in horizontal section, means for suspendingthe trap'from its upper end portion, means for yieldingly holding the rear edges of the side walls of the trap adjacent to the side walls of the casing and means between the trap and the rear wall of the casing for preventing excess lateral travel of a golf ball which has moved back of the trap.

18. A device for practicing golf shots, comprising a casing of open-front box-like shape and having a forwardly downwardly sloping bottom wall extending forwardly of the casing, a casing support including an upper and a lower skeleton frame and a stretcher frame therebetween pivotally connected to the upper frame and slidably and pivotally connected to the lower frame, a flat target of pliant material extending laterally of the casing and having a tacky front surface, a pliant sheet in front of the target to be driven thereagainst by a moving golf ball, resilient means to support the pliant sheet at its upper edge, a trap of pliant sheet-like material in the rear of the target, means for yieldingly holding the vertical edges of the trap adjacent to the side walls of the casing, means for supporting the trap at its upper edge and cord means actuable by a player to simultaneously release the pliant sheet from the target and to raise the lower end portion of the trap.

19. A golf stroke practice device including an open front casing of pliant material having side, top and back walls, a skeleton frame for supporting said casing in distended operative condition,

a tee removably interlocked with a part of the frame to hold it in proper operative position, a pliant target in the casing back of the open front thereof, a thin layer of tacky material on the front surface of the target, a pliant net in front of the target driven thereagainst by a moving ball to indicate the point of impingement of the ball on the target, a trap in back of the target having side portions thereof cooperating with the side walls of the casing to present an increasing frictional resistance to a golf ball missing the target at either side thereof and means embodied in the casing to return a played ball to the tee.

DALE M. BOOTHMAN. 

